Call to introduce powers to suspend deputies

A Guernsey politician wants the committee responsible for States' rules to look at introducing a way to allow politicians to suspend colleagues accused of wrongdoing.

Deputy Charles Parkinson said it should have been able to suspend former deputy Jonathan Le Tocq after he was convicted of creating indecent images of children. Le Tocq resigned from Policy and Resources after he was charged but remained a deputy for a further two months.

His Majesty's Comptroller Hillary Pullum told the States she was "not aware" of any powers to suspend deputies.

States' Assembly & Constitution Committee president Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel said any mechanism to introduce suspensions would need careful consideration.

Parkinson told the States: "P&R had made it clear to [Le Tocq] that we didn't think he could continue in his role.

"The next thing we knew was we were handed a sick note and he went off to France, so he wasn't actually suspended.

"I do wish there had been a mechanism for him to be suspended, I think it is a gap in our rules," said Parkinson.

States Assembly and Constitution Committee president, Deputy Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel said the committee was "responsive" to suggestions from members.

"Deputy Parkinson has raised the question of whether there should be a mechanism allowing for a member of a committee to step aside, or be suspended from that committee, while a live matter is being resolved.

"At present there is no such mechanism within the rules, so any proposal of that nature would require careful consideration by the committee and ultimately by the assembly."

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